Valve mechanism for internal-combustion engines.



S. J, MENEELY. VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. APPLICATION FILED xuuz 14, 1915.

1288,954, Patented 1360241918."

v I 34 f J6 J7 18 SAMUEL J. MENEELY, 0F NEWBURGH, NEW YORK.

VALVE MECHANISM FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 24%, 19728.

Application filed June 14. 1916. Serial No. 10?i,i50v

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL J. MENEELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newburgh, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanism for Internal-Combustion Engines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Myinvention is an improvement in valve mechanism for internal combustion engines and consists in the novel features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which illustrates several embodiments of the invention selected by me for purposes of illustration, and the said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a single cylinder engine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the cylinder andconnected parts drawn to an enlarged scale and showing the valve mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating a modification of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a detail view illustrating various cross sections of plug valves which may be used in carrying my invention into effect.

In internal combustion engines the most usual formof valve mechanism is what is known as puppet valve mechanism in which spring seated valves are unseated by means of cams or other devices for the purpose of admitting the explosive mixture, and placing the cylinder in connection with the exhaust passage. These valves are open to a number of objections. For example, they require constant grinding at intervals due to the formation of scale on the engaging surfaces of the valve and seats and to pitting of the same surfaces, and in high speed engines it is ditlicult to secure the requisite and corresponding high speed action of puppet valves.

It has been proposed to employ slide valves of various kinds to open and close the inlet and exhaust ports, but in such case the valves have ordinarily been disposed at right angles to passages communicating with the compression space of the cylinder and the valves have thus been subjected to a lateralpressure which tends to cause them to wear on one side, and also to bind in action, and, in some instances, means have been provided in an endeavor to secure the balancing of the valves in such relation to the cylinder. The object of my invention is to provide a high speed internal combustion engine structure in which a free and unobstructed passage is provided for the entry of motor fuel and the exit of exploded gases, each of said passages being controlled a reciprocating plug valve working in a seat closely fitting the same, the valve and seat being provided the one with an unyielding bearing surface having lubricant retaining recessed portions formed therein, and the other with unyielding bearing surface portions coiiperating with said recessed portions, a portion of said recessed portions being located. closely ad acent to the explosion chamber of the engine, so that the lubricant contained in said recessed portions will become more or less carbonized by the heat from the explosion chamber of the en gine, the recessed portions forming the only means for making-a tight joint between the valve and the seat. tion thus dispenses with the use of packing rings on the plug valve or in the wall of the seat therefor, and correspondingly dispenses with the use of grids over the aperture leading to the valve seat, which aperture is located in the side wall of the seat. Piston rings cannot be employed in connection with such apertures without providing the apertures with grids and the use of grids obstructs the free and rapid inlet and exit of gases, while the piston rings themselves so increase the frictional resistance of movement of the valve as to detract from the power of the engine and prohibit the production of high speed. These disadvantages are entirely overcome by my improved construction. To this end, I provide the cylinder with tubular valve'seats communieating at their inner ends directly with the compression space in the cylinder, the inner ends of said valve seats communicating with laterally disposed inlet and exhaust passages respectively, and forming part of said passages when the valve is in open position, and I provide plug valves reciprocating in the valve seats and My improved construcin Fig. 2. This is a verv important feature tight and also lubricate the same.

instance, I have shown the valve seats pro-' Y l having their axes coinciding with the axes of the tubular valve seats whereby the in nermost ends only of the plug valves are exposed to the pressure within the cylinder, which is applied thereto in a direction in line with the axes of the valves, thus dis pensing with the necessity for providing any special means to balance the valves. The inlet and exhaust passages communicate laterally with the tubular. valve seats so that they are alternately opened and closed by the reciprocating movements of'the respective valves. Referring to the accompanying drawing Figs. 1 and'2 illustrate one embodiment of my invention; selected by me for purposes of illustration, and While I have shown the invention applied to a single cylinder four cycle engine, it will be understood that it may be applied as well to engines having a plurality'of cylinders and also to engines of other types than the four cycle type. 1

In the said form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, 1 represents the'cylinder which may be of any preferred form and isprovided with.

an explosion chamber, 2, the cylinder being preferably, Water jacketed as indicated at 3. The head of the cylinder is, in this instance, provided with a pair of cylindrical valve seats, 4: and 5, having their axes parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, and in these valve seats reciprocate the inlet valve, 6, and the exhaust valve, 7.' I prefer to provide eitherthe valve orthe valve seat in each case with curved .or recesscd portions to receive and contain liquid or semi-liquid lubricant to makethe valve In-this vided with annular grooves, 8, as shown of my invention for the reason that the valves require the utmost freedom of movement and anything which retards the action of these valves will interfere with the securing of the desired high speed action of [the engine. Valves provided with expansible packing rings are open to several serious obiectlons. .In the first place a grid would be necessary for the lateral openings which would restrictthe passages and prevent the sufliciently rapid inlet and exit of the fluids. The expansion rings would also increase the friction of the valves and so retard their movement to prohibit obtaining of the high speed, and would also subtract a. considerable amount of power from the engine. If it is attempted to op erate such valves with piston rings and Without grids the expansion of the rings in passing over the openings would rapidly cut. away the valve seats and destroy them.

AS shown ii1.tl1e drawings, 1 obviate all these defects by having the valves fit their seats with what is termed a workingfit other devices which would tend to restrict the inlet and outlet openings. Thevalves can, therefore, be reciprocated with the possible application of power, and with the necessary high speed to secure the desired high speed-of the engine. These packing recesses can also be used with valves and valve seats of polygonal and other cross sections some of which are indicated in vFig. 5, where the use of packing rings would be impossible under any circumstances, and thus enables me to use valves of other cross section than circular. 9 represents the inlet port which communicates laterally with the valve seat, 4:, and is supplied with explosive mixture in any desired way as by a pipe, 10, from a. suitable carbureter mixer or other source. 11 represents the exhaust port which communicates'with the valve seat, 5, laterally and may discharge into the atmosphere or-be connected to a muflier by a suitablepipe, 12, in a Well known Way. The head'fof' the cylinder in which the valve 'seats are formed may be cast in one piece with the body of the cylinder, as shown in.

Figs. 1 and 2, or it may be formed separately and 'bolted or otherwise thereto in a well known way.

i The valves may be reciprocated in any desired manner. In the present instance, I have shown the valve connected. by con-v necting rods, 13-14, with cranks, 1516, on a crank shaft, 17, mounted in bearings,

secured I greatest possible freedomand with the least 18, secured to the cylinder-head, the'crank,

shaft being provided with suitable means for driving it in proper time from the crank shaft, 19, of the engine, in this instance, mountedin the lower part or base, 20, and provided with a balance wheel, 21, as usual.

' In this instance, I have'shown the crank shaft, 19, provided with a' sprocket wheel, 22, connected by a sprocket chain, 23, with a. sprocket wheel, on the valve crank shaft, 17, for driving the valve shaft at half engine crank shaft speed. It will be noted that the cranks 1615 are set opposite to each other the exact position to be determined by the desired valve timing or pref erably not quite opposite to each other so that pressure on the end of the valves, 67, acts on both sides of the center simultaneously, and the end thrust of the two valves is thus substantially equalized during the compression and explosion strokes and will not interfere with the proper movements of the valve by the crank shaft. 25

represents the piston in the cylinder, 1, and 26 represents anigniter which may be of any desired form or type for igniting'the explosive charges.

The operation of the engine shown in the drawingis that of an ordinary four cycle internalcombustion engine and neednot be specifically described. It will be seen that the valve, 6, opens and closes the lateral inlet port, 9, at the proper times in the cycle and that the valve, 7, will open and close the lateral exhaust port, 11, in the proper time and that any pressure exerted on the valves, 6-7, will be exerted on their end faces in line With the axes ofthe valves, and will be balanced through the substantially opposite cranks (or eccentrics) or other driving means for reciprocating the valves.

In Figs. 3 and l, I have shown a modified form of my invention in which the same results are secured but'the construction is slightly different in that the tubular seats,

.4-5*, have their axes disposed transversely this is not essential, and. the valves may be given any desired. cross section, it being understood that the valve seats will have a cross section corresponding to and fitting the valves. .Thus in Fig. 5, I have shown a variety of cross sections which may be given to the valve and valve seats, a, representing a cylindrical valve. 6, representing a valve square in cross section, 0, representing a valveof oval cross section. and, (Z, representing a valve oblong in cross section. Obviously the cylindrical cross section is preferable on account of the convenience in boring and fitting the same by machine tools.

It is obvious that each engine cylinder may be provided with any desired number of inlet apd exhaust ports controlled by my improvedvalvc seats and reciprocating plug valve if it is desirable'or convenient to use I more than one inlet and exhaust.

It will be noted that in my improved structure the tubular valve seat is in direct communication for the full area of the seat with the compression space of the engine cylinder. Or in other words. the tubular seatis of uniform diameter preferably throughout and particularly from the inter-.

section of the exhaust or inlet passage therewith to'the combustion space of the engine cylinder where it communicates with the combustion space by an opening in full size of the valveseat. It will also be noted that the use of plug valves obviates the necessity for piston rings or other similar device which necessitate forming a grid over any lateral communicating passage and thereby obstructing such passage, and the positions of the plug valves at their inner positions is such that the compression space of the cylinder is not appreciably increased.

In the preferred form of my invention, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 (see Fig. 2) the plug valves are so constructed and arranged that when in their inner or closed positions there is absolutely no increase in the size of the compression space. The annular recesses surrounding the plug valve or its tubu lar seat. furnish lubrication for the valves and also seal them with respect to their seats without the use of piston rings or analogous devices.

It will also be noted that the inlet and exhaust passages communicate with the tubular valve seats by an aperture which is the full-diameter of the passage without any restriction or-circumlocution so that the explosive charge may flow in the most direct manner possible into the cylinder and the exhaust gases may in like manner be dis-' charged from the cylinder in the most direct and expeditious manner, thus producing a highly eflicient, simple and economical structure.

ters Patent is:

In an internal combustion engine, the combination with an engine cylinder and a piston working therein. of a tubular valve seat communicating with the compression space of the cylinder and having an unobstructed fluid opening in the side Wall of the valve seat, and a fluid passage connected therewith, to form a direct and unobstructed communication between the said fluid passage and the cylinder when the valve is in open position, a reciprocating plug valve movable longitudinally in said seat and fitting therein, said valve and seat being provided, the one with an unyielding bearing surface having lubricant retaining recessed portions formed therein. and the other with unyielding bearing surface portions 00- operating with said recessed portions. aportion of said recessed portions being located adjacent to the combustion chamber. said recessed portions and their contained lubri- 'ating material forming the only packing between the valve and its seat,- and means for reciprocating said valve to open .and close said fluid opening.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.-

SAMUEL J. MENEELY.

What I claim and desire to secure by Leti It'is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,288,954, granted December 24, 1918,11'pon the application of Samuel J. Meneely, of Newburgh, New York, for an improvement in Valve Mechanism for Internal-ComhustionEngines; an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction .as follows: Pag2, line 35.

for the Word curved read grooved; and that the said Letters Patent should be t read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 25th day of February, A. D., 1919.

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

